San Antonio, Texas was the site for SmackDown Live this week, a show we looked at with enthusiasm, considering that Tuesday nights have traditionally been the high point of our week as professional wrestling journalists, over the previous few months.
Unfortunately, the show underdelivered, and we don’t find ourselves enthused about WWE Battleground at all. This episode almost felt like a live event, with match after match and no real progress in terms of storytelling. Let’s delve into the highs and lows of the components of this show, in our ‘Best and Worst' recap.
#1 Worst: A big opportunity lost?
We came into the show with a hot angle. AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens for the United States Championship at Madison Square Garden last Friday and was the new face of America. We understand why WWE did it...to add an air of unpredictability to Live Events and therefore, increase the attendance at such shows.
However, after watching the episode this week, we wonder if it would have made more sense to do this match at Battleground or even on this week’s SmackDown Live episode. As cool as it was to see AJ Styles and John Cena team up in the main event, it did not save the show. WWE may have missed out on capturing a very cool moment on television or pay-per-view and sharing it with their fans.
#1 Best: Bringing back the US Open Challenge
We commend WWE for their hot start, in which John Cena faced off against AJ Styles and teased one of the biggest matches in SmackDown Live history, at the top of the show. Well, wishes don’t always come true, especially for the WWE Universe and this match never even got underway.
In doing this angle, AJ Styles brought back the US Open Challenge, made famous by John Cena and this should make the weekly television show very exciting. Let’s be honest...as exciting as Cena's US Open Challenge matches were, he is not the caliber of wrestler that AJ Styles is right now. Having Styles wrestle a different competitor every single week should be a treat for the more hardcore fans.
#2 Worst: The big matches never even got underway
We understand the concept of saving the more significant matches for WWE Battleground. However, on this evening, two big matches that the crowd really wanted to see did not even start and left fans with a very bitter taste in their mouth.
The first was the big tease between AJ Styles and John Cena for the US Championship, and as we expected, it was disrupted by the alliance of Kevin Owens and Rusev. Later, Shinsuke Nakamura blindsided Baron Corbin and the contest came to a conclusion before the bell even rang.
We understand why it happened, but WWE is a company that has consistently disappointed fans and needs to give their audience a reason to tune in and watch the weekly television show too.
#2 Best: Clean win for the WWE Champion
Through his WWE Championship run, Jinder Mahal has won almost every match in much the same manner really. Mahal and his opponent trade blows and offense, and when it looks like things are going awry for the Maharaja, The Singh Brothers step in and interfere, helping Mahal pick up the big win.
Things were different this week, as Mahal managed to score a big victory by himself. This was an important move. Mahal will be without his two cronies inside the Punjabi Prison. Honestly, he needed to look like a legitimate threat and not the jobber he had been booked as since he returned to the main roster, for his latest run.
#3 Worst: Meaningless matches
None of the matches in this episode really meant anything. Honestly, we could have bypassed this whole show, gone straight to WWE Battleground, and it wouldn’t really have mattered.
From the women being booked in a meaningless tag match, much like the men were, to the tag teams being booked in singles matches, this was an immensely forgettable show. WWE could have used this week to further some storylines instead, but except for the Mike and Maria segment and the Breezango-Hype Bros segment, not much was achieved in that regard. Speaking of which, let’s discuss that crazy little skit.
#3 Best: Cowboys and X-Files
Breezango is the best thing about SmackDown Live right now, without a doubt. Their skits are hilarious, and they prove that the SmackDown Live writers do not lack creativity. We understand that they may not be for everyone, but for their place on the roster, they are awesome. Let’s hope they get a tag team title run.
#4 Worst: Shane McMahon is really no Daniel Bryan
Shane McMahon is still a popular figure and a good choice for Commissioner of SmackDown Live, but he just isn’t Daniel Bryan. Any week without Daniel Bryan feels lackluster and underwhelming, and Shane does not have the charisma to fill the void, despite his best attempts.
On that note, let's end with the power of love that consumes us all when we look at Maria Kanellis.
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